'Skyrias, Sephria's region lived in the secluded mountains; untouched by the others. Cytheria gave Skyrias to the Sixth Higher God, as Sephria loved seclusion. The Skyrian honored their goddess, by watching over her favored animal, Aves, more specifically, eagles. As the relation between aves and Skyrians grew, their faith did not waver; Skyrias is still one of the strongest believers amongst the others.
'It is said that Sephria, herself, has granted her people the Avian Sight and Agility to help them against the unpredictable weather of their region. This not only make Skyrian people dangerous but smart, giving them an ability to see ahead and able to leap from high cliffs without breaking any bones is a feat.'
Excerpt from Skyrias and Sephria's Gift to Her People, Librarian Kodale
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πΎππππππ was a secluded region like Boeotika, no one would dare to visit these mountain or it would kill them physically or mentally. This was actually Bastien's first visit to Skyrias, he only know Skyrias by books or people who have ventured there and managed to came back. It wasn't because Skyrian people are brutes but people didn't want to go back to the ground, some of them fall in love with Skyrian culture that they don't usually want to go back from wherever they came from.
One look behind the treacherous mountains, Bastien realized why people didn't want to go back.
It put Naros to shame at its cleanliness and beauty.
Brick houses with vines that covered most walls stood scattered around the open field, flowers bloom yellow to red, a river that trails from the mountain until it reached the lake. Children running around with their pets, playing with other kids, young adults who Bastien can see were practicing on climbing tall houses then leaping as their avian companion soared behind them. Warriors wearing their armour while casually walking around and doing whatever they're doing. It was full of life, nature and weirdly enough, goats.
The books from Paxos have not done enough justice to Skyrias.
The place was basically untouched by decay, it was opposite from what was happening from Boeotika or Kellonia.
People here were actually in peace.
Was this what happens when people seclude themselves? They thrive? But Boeotika was still suffering as their forest dies as days pass.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Panthea said as they watched the scenery in front of them.
"How do you manage to make this...?" Bastien was too lost for words.
"Peace? We did not stray from what we were taught." Panthea said, a hint of scold in her tone. Bastien let it slip, they all deserve the bragging rights.
This is what he wanted for Naros, not only to his land but every region in Cythera.
If he's going to be king someday, he wanted what he saw and felt here to let others feel it too.
"I do not want to sound rude but your people have forgotten who should they worship. You worship the gold, the silver, the coppers and royalties that you have forgotten who's the real royalty." Panthea said as they began walking towards the village.
"Condescending much?" Kiran mumbled. Panthea ignored him.
Bastien didn't say anything, he didn't know what to say.
"Do you accept new citizens?" Kiran joked as he watched what seemed to be his adrenalin junkie dreams. "By Oikos! These children!" he said as he watched a kid probably eight years old jumped from a balcony and landed on his feet ran to his friends.
"Don't worry about them, they learn how to land on their feet once they learn to walk."
A girl younger than him by five years or so jogged towards them with a small falcon behind her. "Panthea, we've been waiting for you! The Selection of Aves are about to start." The girl began tugging Panthea towards a gathering group in the tall trees near the village. Bastien didn't comment on the fact that she just straight up ignored them.
"Selection of what?" Tellias asked, as they hurried along the two females.
"It is a ceremony where Skyrian children pick their Avian companion, we bond with our companions for life." Panthea answered, letting herself be dragged by the kid.
The men politely watched the children whistling and making calls to their avian friends, arms held out like a perching stand for them, soon small avian creatures landed on their arms and answered them with a whistle. Bastien found the beauty and peace of the children's joy of having a lifetime companion, someone they could rely on and trust them with their life. He wanted that, yeah, he did have his men but he knew each of them would find their 'person' who they could be intimate with and trust their life on them.
Bastien knew there was a higher possibility of him dying alone because his mind was too fucked up, as he continued to battle the temptations surging in his mind.
But he always hoped someone out there was his 'person'.
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The men settled on a spacious house, waiting for the fire to die down. Kiran was already snoring, Kepheos blended in the shadows and Phelan and Tellias were prepping their supplies for Andania.
Bastien had a feeling, he just didn't know if it was good or bad but it made him uneasy.
He couldn't help himself, he had to move. Bastien was a man of composure, somehow the idea of looking for the Mistress of Cythera had him jittered. Maybe, that was it. He thought. I was getting on the myth hype.
He nodded to himself, he move from spot and went outside, leaning against the railing. Bastien stared at the endless sky and saw something moving fast, a streak of yellow against the dark.
His nostrils flared when he realized it was the large bird that guarding Andania, that bird had actually left his spot. Bastien was known for his viciousness in the battlefield and his cunning attitude, all of that he shoved back in the back of his mind, yet since he put himself upon the quest of looking for the myth lady, he was unprepared. His composure was gone, all he had hidden was slowly rising back with a vengeance. He tucked all the temper away, the darkness that lurks in his mind and the need for blood.
War did that to him.
Seeing that bird, put him in some sort of trance, was this a sign? He thought to himself. He chuckled at himself, he was actually entertaining the idea of the myth.
No one person could yield such power, yet here he was, with the ability to break a person with just a thought of his mind but that was different.
No one could control the natural elements, he respected the beliefs the Cytherians have but he couldn't help himself but jittered at the idea of a woman holding such power. His selfishness told him to keep the woman to himself, she may be a use to him in the future but his mind was too skeptic for it.
His rational side told him to kill the woman, such power should not exist. Especially, to a person who claims will give judgement to the people of Cythera for their actions.
Bastien watched the bird flew at great speed, almost like a shooting star. He knew that bird had some pivotal part on all of this.
The cruel side of him whispered suggestions at him. To shoot it. Collect the gold feathers, he had heard the Skyrian whispered about the legendary bird. He was considering on doing it but he had to earn the respect of the Skyrian Elders. "Don't shoot it," He heard Kepheos said behind him. Bastien didn't realized that he had grabbed hold of the nearest bow beside him.
"What do you think of all of this?" he asked his closest friend, Kepheos moved from his shadow and stared after the shrinking figure of the golden bird.
"Judgement has arrived."
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Once the last fire was snuffed out few hours before dawn, he had little time before some people would wake up. He roused his companions awake and beckoned them with a nod of his head.
Bastien packed up and left the hut to see that Panthea standing in the corner with a spear on her back, armor covered and her eagle on her shoulder.
After the meeting with the Elders, he was told only Panthea would guide them to Andania. Where she knew what path they could take undetected, her hood was slung over her head, covering her face from anybody.
"The last guard are already sleeping, we only have few hours left before the first watch wakes." she explained, already walking ahead. Bastien did not waste time and proceed to follow her, the other on their wake.
The men were still sleepy but it will suffice. Kepheos already blending in the shadows, his ability to bend the darkness at his will made Bastien wished he had the skill; for being the heir of Naros meant being under a watchful eyes of the people.
"We won't take the horses, people will notice and they can't survive the mountains."
"This will take a long time to reach Andania." Tellias said, already awake unlike Kiran who was still rubbing his eyes.
"Lucky for you, I know a shortcut to Andania." she winked at Tellias, the woman was already in good mood. Tellias cleared his throat and Bastien saw a slight blush emitting on his cheeks.
Panthea craned her neck slightly to the side from the eagle, it did a vertical take off and soon made a high pitch whistled as they all watch the eagle dove to the cliff and disappear.
"Where is your eagle going?" Tellias asked, awed to the eagle.
"Reconnaissance," she answered, slightly doing a speed walk.
The men followed behind her, Bastien wondered if all Skyrian shared a proper bond with their eagles. The Boeotikan Huntresses shared a bond with their animal companion, being their guide to the forest and protecting them from potential threat.
"Normally, the usual path would take an hour or two, it depends on the wind. Fortunately, Sorine found a path hidden from others. Is anybody claustrophobic?" Panthea asked, turning around to face them while walking backwards.
Bastien knew the answer, every man in his group have been in places smaller. Phelan may struggle a bit because of his built but he knew his limits. Phelan did not speak any word.
"Your eagle's name Sorine?" Tellias asked.
"Yep, she told me."
"You don't act like a normal Skyrian," Bastien implied, he knew the Skyrians were uptight like the Boeotikans when it comes to outsider and Theodors have told him, Skyrians are carefree once they reached the mountains, enjoying the thrill of the heights.
Tellias won't enjoy the trip unlike to the woman in front of them.
"Life's too short to be uptight in the ass." she said in an almost perfect Narosi accent.
"Most of your people won't bother speaking or learning the Narosi language." Bastien stated, only the Elders and Panthea so far spoke Narosi. "A bit of Boeotisian, sure but Narosi, no."
If a war may happen between the Cythera's regions, Bastien knew that Boeotika and Skyrias would have each other's back. A dangerous duo.
Kellonia was a region of artistry and music, Paxos was a region of scholars and healers and Itchaia was a dead region. Only Boeotika, Skyrias and Naros held the strongest warriors, and the idea of facing against two strongest region who may fought together against them was problem, he had to rectify once this myth was done.
Like the current problem Cythera faces now.
"I only learn Narosi because of your brother." she sighed, almost dreamingly.
Bastien had to pry, "What is exactly your relationship to my brother?"
He saw her stiffened and exhaled. "A friend, that is all. Do not worry, I do not like payatis."
Tellias oblivious to the tense woman, "Well, I'm no payati." The way he said the word was pee-yee-tee, had the Skyrian woman laughed.
She said something in Skyrian before laughing again.
Tellias took it as a sign of flirtation. "If you ever need a battle to conquest, I am here, Maheeti."
Maheeti meant 'my beloved' in Narosi. He noticed that Kepheos gave Tellias a confounded look, not once did they heard him say the word from Tellias.
Panthea did not know she had a Narosya noble tied to her finger already.
Bastien cleared his throat and gestured to the tight passage between the large boulders, hidden by some vines. "Is this it?"
"It's only a thirty minute tight space but I don't think your friend over here would fit." she gestured to Phelan, the wide shoulders would make him struggle.
Phelan nodded, no words needed to explain.
"No worries, I'll have Sorine guide your friend to Andania in another path. She'll protect him like he's hers." After she said those words, Sorine landed on Phelan's shoulder, settling herself comfortably. Phelan did not even flinched.
Panthea who stood in front of the tight entrance, ran to the wall before kicking her feet against the wall turning her body until she landed in front of Phelan.
She cooed at her eagle and spoke in Skyrian, before tucking a paper between its claws.
Panthea smiled at Phelan and Sorine before shooing them away, somehow, Phelan walked quietly as the eagle did a vertical take off on his shoulder.
Tellias whistled in appreciation.
"Let's go, we're wasting time."
She pushed Bastien and his friends aside, so she could enter through the tight passage in a jog. Her small frame fitting with ease, Panthea was small but capable. Bastien went in first, struggling at first before finding enough space to fit his lean muscled body in the narrow passage.
He heard Kiran grunting, Kepheos slinking back like a shadow. Kiran was the only one seems to be stuggling, Panthea was already ahead of them. The passage was dark with only the light from the sky providing them vision. They spent few more minutes trying to walk past the tight spaces, if he was claustrophobic before, he may be now. Bastien tried to show his unease and continued walking. He heard Tellias cursed.
The rock walls were slowly moving farther away from each others, until Bastien blew a sigh of relief once he was able to move his body more freely than before.
They found Panthea holding a torch, waiting for them to exit the tight space. Where she got it, he'll never know.
"A few more minutes we'll reach the cave, but I do suggest on having a tight grip on that sword of yours." She nodded to their weapons, Kiran groaned.
"What beasts do you have here?" Bastien asked.
"We actually don't know, it just appeared out of nowhere." she said, "They showed up months before Theodoros' arrival."
He was pissed that his brother didn't say anything to Bastien about these beast, he gritted his teeth and snarled, "You led to my brother to a beast infested area, you have seen my brother, he is no warrior." his grip on his sword tighten.
"He never even saw it." Panthea snorted, "You doubt Skyrias of their ability to protect an innocent." she said without a hint of malice.
Rational thoughts soon cloud his mind, he had to be careful on his frustrations. He can't afford pissing off a potential ally. "Forgive me, I am very well protective to my brother." Bastien said, not caring if he just tossed her a leverage because he knew if this woman betray Theodoros' trust, Bastien could easily break the woman.
Panthea exhale and gestured them to follow her.
They spent the whole time being cautious to their surroundings, luckily, no beast attempted to ambush them. Which Panthea found it odd, stating that something's happening.
"She's here." Kepheos said.
Bastien's suddenly had chills across his spine, his sudden urge to use his ability irked him.
Panthea had a blank face on her face as she observe her surroundings, Bastien realized that without Sorine, Panthea had no vision in her surroundings.
They were going in blind.
Bastien almost, almost used his ability to reach to any possible mind near them but that would also alert the beasts of his presence.
They reached a cave with two torches pinned to the inside of the entrance, but even with the torches, it swallowed any traces of light from the torches. To enter the cave was to become engulfed in chilling blackness, the absence of light meant the absence of the warming touch.
The ground of the cave was full of growing grass, almost swallowing the cave. So far, it's the only place where there's a lot of plants.
Panthea let out a sigh of relief, "We're here."
"It's fucking dark in there." Kiran commented.
"Well, light your own torch." Tellias grumbled back.
"Where's the bird though?" Kiran asked.
They all looked at the sky and saw no bird flying around in circles.
Not even Panthea said anything. That's not good.
No one dared to step inside the entrance, it look hallow from their place. Bastien who did not care for the darkness, step first in the cave, the only sound that met his straining ears was his own echoing footsteps, he reached out a hand to feel his way and couldn't even see his own hand.
It was so damn dark.
"Bas." He heard Kepheos called out, the spymaster would gladly go first but even he was unsure what lays ahead of the cavern.
"Still here," he answered. "Kepheos, can you see anything?"
He knew that the spymaster went followed him, his own shadow swallowed by darkness. "A bit but it's still hard," he said, stopping near Bastien. It's better than nothing.
Soon, Tellias, Kiran and Panthea went inside. Bastien didn't need to read their minds to know that they were at unease.
"I can guide everyone here but you have to hold hands." Kepheos said, Bastien grabbed hold of Kepheos' shoulder as Panthea's small hand held his elbow.
"This is why no one dares to go inside," Panthea said.
A few minutes passed, Kepheos slowly guiding them in the darkness. They reached a suddenly lit place, the light suddenly burn their eyes. What greeted them had them gasping.
Everything was covered with plants, a small pond in the corner, mushrooms lit the place. Anyone could live here.
The high ceiling was covered with stalactites, the water in the pond was crystal clear, almost sparkling.
Panthea gasped as she walked around the cave, almost touching a glowing mushroom but stopping herself. "It's beautiful..." she kneeled on the ground. "This is a first time for me, to see something so alive. Pure." She sounded near to tears, Kiran who for once in his loud life was quiet.
Nothing shocks Kiran to silence.
Bastien couldn't comprehend the beauty in front of him. The wars destroyed Cythera's nature, beauty and purity. This cave have preserved the beauty of what was once lost.
A high pitch whistle echoed in the cave, silencing Panthea's sobs.
She spoke in Skyrian, bowing to the ground. Kepheos soon followed suite, until it was Bastien was left standing.
He lowered to his knees, a feat, to show to respect to his companions' belief.
"Golden One, we mean no harm to you and your Mistress."
Was she talking to the bird? Bastien thought. The bird he saw hours ago.
Apparently, it heard the Skyrian and replied in another high pitched whistle. If Panthea speak bird, he was grateful for having her around.
Panthea slowly stood and dropped her spear. She began walking towards the end.
"Wait, what are you doing?!" Tellias called out, grabbing hold of her spear.
"Showing that I bring no harm." She answered without looking back.
The men all looked at Bastien's command. Skyrians knew more of this place and rules, he was an outsider to these region. He nodded and began unbuckling his weapon sheath, Kiran looked shocked to see that Bastien was actually considering this.
As soon as the men dropped all weapons on the ground, they watched in shock to see the grass envelope their weapons, watching it being covered by plants. Bastien heard Kepheos shivered as they watched their weapons be swallowed by the plants.
"Oh putris!" Kiran cursed, as Kepheos grabbed hold of him from trying to grab his weapons back. "That's my favorite axe, man!"
"That's just an axe, Kir." Tellias said, helping Kepheos on the task of stopping Kiran from doing something stupid. "Leave it, man."
Bastien walked to follow Panthea, the others soon followed with Kiran grumbling about weapon eating grass. What his men didn't know that he had a dagger concealed on his boots.
This cave was beautiful and almost ethereal, he found Panthea standing and staring ahead, he wondered what made her stopβ
There in front of them was a woman, asleep.
She was breathtaking.